Astronomers are gearing up for the "biggest ever" solar eclipse, with the phenomenon set to be viewed by millions.
The eclipse will begin over the South Pacific, with its path reaching Mexico's Pacific coast at around 11.07 am Pacific Time before entering the United States in Texas.
The phenomenon is occurring as the Moon passes between the sun and Earth, entirely covering the face of the sun along a small path of our planet's surface.
Known as the "path of totality" the daytime sky turns dark, akin to dusk or dawn, and nocturnal animals have been known to wake up, confused into believing night has arrive. More than 31 million people live the path of totality, making it the most viewed eclipse in recent history.
The solar eclipse tonight will be watched by millions
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While the US will see the majority of the eclipse's effect, a partial eclipse will be visible in some parts of the UK, weather permitting.
Stornoway in the Outer Hebrides is set to see a 34 per cent eclipse at 8.14pm. Belfast will get a 28 per cent eclipse and Glasgow a 12 per cent eclipse.
It should even be visible in Liverpool, however only three per cent of the sun will be blocked out. People are strongly advised not to look directly at the Sun during the phenomena.
Professor Don Pollacco, from the University of Warwick’s department of physics said: "With no protection, you will at best damage your eyes, or you could blind yourself."
LATEST ON THE 2024 SOLAR ECLIPSE
Exact times solar eclipse will be visible in UK cities
PA
The US is preparing for the cosmological event
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A partial eclipse will be viewed across nearly all of the UK in 2026, however a full one won't happen until 2081 in the Channel Islands or 2090 in the South West.
Senior astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, Dr Edward Bloomer told The Guardian: "I’m afraid the south and the east are out of luck this time around. We won’t, ourselves, get to see anything from the observatory, which we’re a bit sad about."
Over in the US, the eclipse will begin over the South Pacific, with its path reaching Mexico's Pacific coast at around 11.07 am Pacific Time before entering the United States in Texas.
Its path then takes it through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, a tiny piece of Tennessee, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, a tiny piece of Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.
Astronomers in Mexico are preparing for the event
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It is set to leave the US at 3:35 pm Eastern Daylight Time in Lee, Maine, before entering Canada's maritime provinces on its eastern coast.
The eclipse path goes through Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton, exiting continental North America on the Atlantic coast of Newfoundland, Canada, at 5.16 pm Newfoundland Time.
Millions are descending on Niagara Falls, which falls in the path of totality on the US/Canada border, with hotel rooms are booked and prices are higher than usual, according to Janice Thomson, president and CEO of Niagara Falls Tourism.
Many hotel rooms were priced at C$1,000 per night and above and some boasting views of the falls even reached around C$2,200 ($1,620).